An autopsy has confirmed that two bodies found last week in a wildlife area are those of two young Iowa cousins who had been missing since last summer.

Evansdale Police Chief Kent Smock says he received confirmation Monday from the Iowa State Medical Examiner's Office that the bodies were Elizabeth Collins and Lyric Cook, who had been missing since July 13.

The full autopsy has not been released to police.

Elizabeth was eight and Lyric was 10 when they vanished after going out for a bike ride in their hometown about 90 miles (145 km) northeast of Des Moines.

Hunters found their bodies last week in the Seven Bridges Wildlife Area, about 25 miles (40 km) from where the girls were last seen.

Authorities closed the park while they searched for evidence but now have reopened the area.

Black Hawk County Sheriff's Captain Rick Abben said last week that investigators would wait for the official autopsy report before reclassifying the case as a homicide.